Trump adds another lawyer to his Russia investigation team

President Trump salutes a Marine as he walks off Marine One upon returning to the White House from Miami on Friday. (Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency)

President Trump has hired prominent defense lawyer John Dowd to join his legal team amidst multiple probes into Russian interference in the 2016 election and reported allegations of obstruction of justice.

Dowd, who has represented clients in cases involving the Justice Department and the Senate Ethics Committee, will join Trump’s legal team, which is led by his longtime personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz.

Dowd, a former Justice Department attorney, also investigated Pete Rose for Major League Baseball.

Also assisting Trump in handling the investigations is Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative advocacy group. Michael J. Bowe, an attorney with Kasowitz's law firm, is also assisting the team.

Trump faces multiple investigations into possible collusion between his campaign associates and Russian officials, who are said to have ordered an extensive effort to disrupt the 2016 election. A special counsel, led by former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III, is also looking into allegations that Trump attempted to obstruct the investigation, The Washington Post reported this week.

House and Senate investigators are also looking into Russian hacking and possible collusion of Trump campaign associates.

Abby Phillip is a national political reporter covering the White House for The Washington Post.